The Truth about Triclosan

Many people don’t really know what it is and some other people never even heard about it. We are talking about triclosan, a substance that has been all over the headlines as a potential dangerous ingredient used in personal care products.

Triclosan is a chlorinated phenolic bactericide which is added to products to fight bacteria, molds and yeasts and to prevent odor. This antibacterial additive is found in multiple personal hygiene products including toothpastes, soaps, deodorants, body-washes as well as children’s toys, footwear, cooking tools, and furniture.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) triclosan is not known to be hazardous to humans. In addition, the FDA states that there is not sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time.

However, researchers have found intriguing and quite disturbing results from products which contain triclosan as it may bring some very serious side effects. Studies have definitively shown that triclosan does cause problems with the production of several hormones, including thyroid hormone, estrogen and testosterone. Some experts believe that there could be an increased risk of breast cancer when using triclosan, labeling this ingredient as a probable carcinogen.

Additionally, a new study has linked triclosan to liver damage as researchers believe that exposure to the ingredient was associated with liver fibrosis and cancer. It just adds more to its bad reputation as past research has linked it to heart issues and allergies in children. Even large companies such as Procter and Gamble and Avon are removing triclosan from their products. With so many great natural products available, you have no reason to take a chance with products which contain triclosan.